| Many people assume sex toys were invented by | | | | Victorian era, when women were not considered |
| the Asians. While it's true that Asians have | | | | sexual beings. Doctors would treat female |
| used sexual aids for more than a 1000 years, | | | | hysteria by massasing their patients' |
| dildos and vibrators have surprisingly | | | | genitals until they experienced relief by |
| western roots. | | | | paroxysm (orgasm). |
| | | | |
| No one is certain who invented the dildo, | | | | In the late 19th century the first electric |
| however its popularity is owed to an ancient | | | | vibrators surfaced. They were still |
| Greek port city, Miletus, on the west coast | | | | camouflaged as therapy for female hysteria |
| of the present day Turkey. Miletus traders | | | | and were sold only to doctors. Gradually |
| sold what the Greeks called Olibos around the | | | | magazines started to advertise such devices |
| Mediterranean. In ancient Greece they were | | | | to women for self treament of hysteria at |
| used as sexual refuges for lonely ladies. | | | | home. In 1918, Sears Roebuck, and american |
| | | | chain of department stores touted one |
| In Italy the word Olibos became the word | | | | vibrator as being a very satisfactory aid |
| dildo, probably from the Italian word | | | | every woman appreciates. Then an |
| diletto, meaning to delight. However, | | | | advertisement in a 1921 issue of "Heart's" |
| compared with todays toys you could hardly | | | | magazine urged men to buy the devices for |
| describe them as delightful as they were made | | | | their wives to keep them young and pretty and |
| from wood, leather and stone. | | | | free from the illness of hysteria. |
| | | | |
| Dildos have always had a sexual purpose from | | | | But during the 1920s, early "blue" movies |
| the moment they were invented, vibrators on | | | | showed women using the devices for sexual |
| the other hand have not. Vibrators were | | | | stimulation. Early pornography stripped |
| invented 130 years ago to treat a medical | | | | vibrators of their social camouflage of being |
| illness known as "female hysteria". Hysteria, | | | | massagers, and by 1930, they were no longer |
| meaning suffering uterus in Greek, involved | | | | openly advertised. Today, Adult Toys are |
| anxiety, irritability, sexual fantasies, | | | | popular sexual aids and are sold for sexual |
| pelvic heaviness and excessive vaginal | | | | purposes. |
| lubrication - sexual arousal during the | | | | |